The Art of Fencing eBook

By feeling the Sword, is meant commanding the Fort
and Feeble equally with the Hand, in order to communicate
to the more distant Part of the Blade, as well as
to that which is nearer, the Motion and Action that
is requisite.

The Hilt should be situated in the Center, that is
to say, between the upper and lower Parts, and the
Inside and Outside of the Body, in order to be in
a better Condition to defend whatever Part may be attacked.
The Arm must not be strait nor too much bent, to preserve
its Liberty and be cover’d. The Parts being
thus placed, the Wrist and the Point of the Right
Foot will be on a perpendicular Line.

The Point of the Sword ought to be about the Height
of, and on a Line with the Adversary’s Shoulder,
that is, it must be more or less raised, according
as he is taller or shorter: Some Masters raise
it to one fixed Height, which would be very well if
all Men were of the same Stature; but if we consider
the difference in Height of Persons, we shall find
it evidently bad. ’Tis to be observed,
that according to the Length or Shortness of the Blade,
the Line from the Shell to the Point is higher or
lower, when the Height of the Point is fix’d.

The Shoulder, the Bend of the Arm, the Hilt, the Point
of the Sword, the Hip, the Right Knee and the Point
of the Right Foot must be on a Line.

The Head should be upright and free without Stiffness
or Affectation, the Face turned between full and profile,
and not altogether full, as many Masters will have
it, that being a constrained and disagreeable Figure.

[Illustration: 2d Plate. A Lunge in Quart.]

[Illustration: A Thrust in Quart.]

The Sight should be fixed on the Adversary’s,
not only to observe his Motions, but also to discover
his Design, it being possible to guess at the interior
Design, by the exterior Action.

It is necessary to appear animated with a brave Boldness,
for nothing requires a Man to exert himself more than
Sword in Hand; and it is as difficult to attain such
an Air of Intrepidity without much Excercise, as it
is to become perfectly expert.

CHAP. III.

Of Pushing Quart.

To push Quart within, besides the Precautions
of placing yourself to Advantage, and of pushing properly
and swiftly, which is to be acquired by Practice and
nice Speculation, It is necessary that the Parts, in
order to assist each other in making the Thrust, should
be so disposed and situated, as that the Wrist should
draw with it the Bend of the Arm, the Shoulder, and
the upper Part of the Fore-Part of the Body, at the
same time that the Left Hand and Arm should display
or stretch themselves out smartly, bending one of
the Knees and extending the other, which gives more
Vigour and Swiftness to the Thrust; and the Body finding
itself drawn forward by the swift Motion of the Wrist
and other Parts, obliges the Right Foot to go forward